Carlos Tavares confirms that the new Fiat 500 hybrid will arrive ahead of schedule

Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantisgave some good news today by announcing a new production date for the Fiat 500 hybrid, which will arrive sooner than expected. This turnaround follows months of speculation about the future of the Mirafiori plant in Turin. Initially scheduled for 2026, the new Fiat 500 hybrid could start production much earlier, as early as 2025, according to what was announced to the unions.

Back to the issues

Five months ago, Tavares unveiled the production of this hybrid version at Mirafiori, stating at the time that production would not start before 2026. This left a bitter taste in the mouths of unions and workers alike, as the plant, once a pillar of Italian production, saw its output seriously curtailed. Indeed, production of the electric Fiat 500 has fallen sharply since the beginning of 2024, with sales halved.

Yet Tavares has always maintained that Italy should play a key role in Stellantis' strategy, aiming for one million vehicles produced in the country by 2030. The introduction of the 500 hybridand the future production of the Jeep Compass at Melfi, is part of this vision of strengthening our industrial footprint in Italy.

Why this acceleration?

Economic and regulatory challenges probably played a part in this change of direction. The decision to relaunch the 500 hybrid earlier not only fills the gap left by declining electric sales, but also meets the expectations of a market where hybrids are still competitive with all-electric vehicles. With hybrid production using gasoline and batteries, Stellantis is able to offer a more affordable alternative, taking advantage of lower production costs and regulatory uncertainties about 100 % electric mobility in Europe by 2035.

Mirafiori, a hoped-for revival

Tavares' plan calls for a investment of 100 million euros to upgrade the Mirafiori power generation line and reduce the costs of the electrical model. This effort should enable the plant to produce around 70,000 electric vehicles a year, but it is the hybrid version that will play a central role. Stellantis estimates that 100,000 units of the new Fiat 500 hybrid will be produced, based on the same platform as the electric version, but optimized to incorporate a combustion engine. As a reminder, in its best years, the old 500 combustion engine, produced in Poland, sold around 180,000 units/year.

This project comes at a critical time for Mirafiori, which, although considered "doomed" a few months ago, is now regaining hope.

Hiring for a young workforce

In addition to this announcement, Carlos Tavares confirmed his intention to renew the plant's workforce, with the hiring of young workers, particularly in Turin. This is a concrete response to the criticism that has been levelled at Stellantis for several months. The mayor of Turin, Stefano Lo Russo, hailed the decision as "proof that Turin remains a central player in the Italian automotive industry."